United Way of Cascade County announced that it will invest $1,272,085 to advance bold goals in education, financial security and health.
Thanks to last fall’s record-breaking campaign, United Way will help 30,571 people in the coming year through the local programs receiving grants alone. And its community impact work touches everyone living in Cascade County.
The annual United Way campaign, which kicks off Sept. 3, aims to make it easy for people and businesses to build our entire community. Most give through a workplace campaign and deduct small amounts from each paycheck.
“Our generous community continues to step up their support of our efforts,” United Way President Gary Owen said. “Because of their support, United Way is able to bring together community resources to tackle some of our community’s biggest challenges.”
United Way of Cascade County is dedicating $624,963 to community initiatives in the coming year. That includes supporting efforts to address homelessness, prevent child abuse, improve education and manage the federally funded Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
Donors can designate their gifts to specific nonprofits that are close to their hearts. In last year’s campaign, donors designated $162,122 to 108 nonprofits.
For money that isn’t designated, a volunteer committee decides which programs best advance United Way’s goals of helping children achieve their potential and graduate on time, promoting financial stability and independence and improving people’s health.
A team of 40 volunteers spent hours reviewing written proposals and listening to presentations before allocating $485,000 to fund 30 nonprofit programs.
Many nonprofits requesting grants had increased costs and others looked for grants to replace state and federal funding. United Way will invest in new programs, including providing mental health services for elementary students and adapting homes for seniors as they age.
“Each year, our volunteers face the challenge of being able to fund half of what is requested of United Way,” Owen said. “Our hope is to rise to meet that need with this year’s campaign.”
This year’s campaign kicks off Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. outside the United Way office, at 1900 32nd Ave. NE.
In addition to the workplace campaign, people may give by sending contributions directly to United Way at PO Box 1343, Great Falls, MT 59403, or donating online.
Broken down into United Way’s focus areas of youth opportunity, financial security and healthy communities. Here are the 30 programs that are funded this year:
Youth Opportunity -- $79,000
- Alluvion Health (school mental health services) – $10,000
- Boys & Girls Club -- $9,000
- Big Brothers Big Sisters -- $7,000
- Foster Grandparents -- $8,000
- Kairos Youth Services -- $27,000
- Montana United Indian Association -- $9,000
- Young Parents Education Center -- $9,000
Financial Security -- $184,000Alliance for Youth (youth resource center) – $25,000
- Cascade County Law Clinic -- $15,000
- Family Promise -- $16,000
- Great Falls Children’s Receiving Home -- $12,000
- NeighborWorks Great Falls -- $15,000
- Opportunities, Inc. (housing)-- $35,000
- St. Vincent de Paul (homeless outreach) -- $40,000
- Victim Witness Services -- $16,000
- YWCA Mercy Home -- $10,000
Healthy Communities -- $222,000
- Alliance for Youth (Sober Life) -- $26,000
- Boys & Girls Club (community garden) -- $1,000
- CASA-CAN -- $15,000
- Get Fit Great Falls (afterschool program and Park Pals) -- $10,000
- Habitat for Humanity -- $6,700
- Meals on Wheels -- $25,000
- Peace Place Respite Care -- $19,900
- Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect task force -- $8,000
- St. Vincent de Paul (food program and community kitchen) -- $66,300
- Toby’s House -- $10,100
- Veterans' Treatment Court -- $16,000
- Voices of Hope (crisis line) -- $18,000